Exiles five points clear at top

London Irish gave their Heineken Cup hopes a huge boost with a memorable 24-16 victory over French giants Perpignan at the Madejski Stadium on Sunday.

And as if to rub salt into the wound, the Exiles sent their French opposition home empty handed after Peter Hewat's late penalty denied the visitors a consolatory losing bonus-point.

The club maintained their 100% record so far in the competition and now stand five points clear at the top of Pool One.

Perpignan paid the price for their indiscipline, conceding two tries after having players sin-binned in what was a first defeat for the either of group's two form teams.

The opening Irish try came in the 21st minute courtesy of lock Bob Casey, who was driven over from the line out a after ruck offence saw back row forward Gerrie Britz become the first of four players sent off.

Perpignan however, went into the interval with a slender lead after Jerome Porical slotted three penalties to take the score to 9-8.

Remarkable

Seven minutes after the restart the visitors extended their lead when left-wing Adrien Plante latched onto a lofted crossfield kick by replacement half-back Cedric Rosalen.

In a remarkable piece of skill Plante deftly volleyed the ball over the line before diving on it for his side's only try.

Full-back Porical converted to take the scores to 16-8, and the visitors looked set to inflict the first defeat of the campaign on Irish.

But their poor discipline came back to haunt them and Perpignan were again made to pay when lock Rimas Alvarez Kairelis was yellow-carded for offside.

Kairelis quickly followed by substitute prop Nicolas Mas for his part in illegally pulling down the Irish drive.

The offences resulted in a penalty and a penalty try and, with Hewat on target on both occasions Irish nosed their way back into an 18-16 lead.

Things went from bad to worse for the French and two more late penalties from Hewat took his personal tally to 14 points, while simultaneously denying the French the all-important bonus point.